Executive Hotel Pacific

Hotel at a Glance: Executive Hotel Pacific

The chic Executive Hotel Pacific was built in 1928, and it retains a flashy, art-deco vibe from that era. The lobby welcomes guests with sleek black, white, and gold accents. It’s within easy reach of Pike’s Place Market and other downtown Seattle landmarks. Before you turn in for the day, be sure to grab a Washington apple from the lobby, so you can enjoy a local favorite in the comfort of your guest room.

The Lodge serves up locally sourced burgers and seafood, along with more than 50 types of beer amid hand-hewn cedar walls and TVs with sports on.

Housemade gelato, espresso, and bistro-style sandwiches are on the menu at the European-style Vovito cafe.

Street performances, flowers, and fresh-caught fish find a common home at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Founded in 1907, this market is where both sightseers and locals shop for fresh seafood, meat, and produce. Drop into the Fish Market to watch the staff tossing salmon, halibut, cod—a famous tradition. There are plenty of nonperishable goods as well, including jewelry and other crafts. And you might want to take a picture in front of the market’s iconic sign, which now rivals Space Needle as the city’s most-recognizable symbol.

The original Starbucks coffeehouse has operated out of Pike Place since the 1970s. You can stop here for a pick-me-up before taking the half-mile walk to Seattle Central Library. Whether you love books or architecture or both, this futuristic-looking library is worth a visit. The 11-story glass-and-steel structure consists almost entirely of diamond-shaped windows arranged to look like a geometric net. The otherworldly interior is a playground for book lovers. Be sure to check out the library’s “living room” in the morning, when sunlight creates a kaleidoscopic shadow on the floor.

Like the library, the nearby Seattle Art Museum is full of spectacles, starting with its collection of “exploding” white Ford Tauruses suspended from the lobby ceiling. Exhibits range from Renaissance-era European art to Korean and Japanese panels.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.